Smart ways to give to charity

Six out of ten Brits donated to charity last year, and while we’re a generous lot, we still want to make sure every penny counts. Make your donations go further with these smart giving tips.

Snip from your salary

Make sure your employer is signed up to Payroll Giving which lets you donate a set amount automatically from your salary every month to a charity of your choice. Payroll Giving donations are taken before tax so each £1 given to charity will only cost you 80p, and if you're a higher rate tax payer it will only cost you 60p.

It costs you less and gives charities a steady and reliable income to plan ahead more effectively.

Where there’s a will

Leaving a legacy to a chosen charity in your will makes perfect sense. It gives you the chance to help others even when you’re not here yourself. What’s more, any money left to charity won’t count towards the total taxable value of your estate.

Tick the box

If you’re a UK tax payer, donating through Gift Aid means charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give – but it won’t cost you anything extra. Whether you’re sponsoring someone online through companies such as Justgiving or Virgin Money Giving, making a regular donation or simply taking a box of old books to the charity shop, make sure you fill in a Gift Aid form.

Give time not money

Of course charities need money, but they also need dedicated volunteers – and sparing a few hours a week to help will cost you nothing. Currently, 19% of Brits give their time to charity, meaning less of the charities’ cash has to be spent on salaries, and giving volunteers a feel-good buzz to boot.

Give your stuff to charity

Every year charity shops raise over £270m for a range of causes in the UK, so while you may feel that they are doing you a favour by taking your old stuff off your hands, it’s the charities themselves that are grateful. Add in the benefits of reusing and recycling rather than throwing away, and it’s win-win all round.

Shop smarter

Giving your unwanted items to charity shops is a no-brainer, but don’t forget to buy things from them too. You’ll save yourself a few quid while adding to their funds at the same time.

Also, go online to buy from their range of gifts and cards, from places such as Oxfam and Wildlife Aid, to do some extra good when you give to your nearest and dearest.

Give as you click

It’s possible to raise funds for charity without actually giving any money yourself, simply by using a cashback service that gives money to good causes rather than back to you

Like other cashback sites Give as you Live allows you to shop at more than 4,300 top stores. They pay the platform a percentage of what you spend and half of this is passed on to charity.